Portsmouth favourite walking on huge suspension tightrope ahead of Millwall and Wrexham - FA rules explained
Pompey picked up a 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening, but there was one concern which emerged from The Valley.
Pompey made a much-needed return to winning ways on Tuesday evening, with a crucial 3-1 triumph over relegation rivals Charlton Athletic.
A Colby Bishop penalty was sandwiched in between two fabulous Terry Devlin strikes from outside the box, with Jayden Favrier pulling back a consolation on 64 minutes.
One member of the head coach’s squad is now be walking on a suspension tightrope, having picked up his ninth booking of the campaign in the victory.
Ebou Adams has been influential in Pompey’s up-turn in form over the past month following his £500,000 arrival from Derby County in January.
The ‘General’ has started six of his first seven games for the Blues and has been a powerhouse in the engine room in recent weeks.
However, the 30-year-old earned his ninth caution of the campaign in the first half of Tuesday’s 3-1 win following an 87th-minute foul on Amari’i Bell.
While it represented just Adams' second yellow during his time at Fratton Park, the midfielder had already picked up seven bookings in his 24 appearances for the Rams earlier in the campaign.
FA suspension rules and games Ebou Adams could miss
2025-26 FA suspension rules state that any player who accumulates five yellow cards before game-week 19 must serve a one-game ban.
Ten cautions earned before or up to the end of match-week 37 will result in a two-match suspension, while 15 bookings accrued before the end of the season will warrant a three-game ban.
This means Adams will now be walking on a suspension tightrope for Pompey’s next six fixtures, which includes contests against Millwall (A), Wrexham (A), Hull City (H), Blackburn Rovers (A), Swansea City (H) and Derby County (H).
The former Cardiff City man will be looking to avoid his second ban of the season, with the Blues also missing key personnel in the engine room.
Meanwhile, John Swift has started the previous two matches in the more advanced number 10 role, with Conor Chaplin and Adrian Segecic both picking up issues in recent weeks.
Pompey’s booking so far this season
Mousinho’s men have picked up 68 cautions in the Championship this season - the joint-third highest in the division.
While Adams leads the way on nine bookings, Dozzell and Swift are both not far behind, having accrued seven so far.
The pair are followed by Marlon Pack on six, while Regan Poole and Zak Swanson have earned five and four respectively.
Connor Ogilvie, Josh Murphy, Jordan Williams and Luke Le Roux have amassed three bookings, with Colby Bishop picking up just the two.
Then Thomas Waddingham, Aji Alese, Hayden Matthews, Conor Chaplin, Adrian Segecic, Josef Bursik, Ibane Bowat, Makenzie Kirk, Mark Kosznovszky and Terry Devlin have found themselves in the referee’s book just the once.